The Government is set to strengthen India’s data driven governance framework with a two day national capacity building workshop in Patna focusing on Sustainable Development Goals monitoring, environmental accounting and gender statistics.
The workshop, scheduled for March 18 and 19 in Bihar, is being organised by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation in collaboration with the Government of Bihar, with technical support from United Nations Development Programme India.
The initiative is part of the Ministry’s continued efforts to enhance the quality, reliability and usability of official statistics to support evidence based policymaking and governance at both national and state levels.
The workshop will bring together a wide range of stakeholders including officials from central ministries, State and Union Territory departments, statistical institutions and international agencies. It is designed to serve as a platform for knowledge exchange, capacity building and dissemination of best practices across three critical domains that are central to inclusive and sustainable development.
The event is expected to be attended by Minister of Planning and Development Government of Bihar, Secretary Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation and Chief Secretary Government of Bihar, along with senior officers from the Ministry, representatives of the State Government and delegates from United Nations agencies.
The first day of the workshop will focus on Sustainable Development Goals and gender statistics, with technical sessions aimed at strengthening monitoring frameworks and institutional capacity.
Discussions on Sustainable Development Goals will centre around the National Indicator Framework and the alignment of State Indicator Frameworks with national priorities. Experts will examine how data related to SDG indicators can move beyond routine monitoring to become a tool for informed decision making, policy design and outcome based governance.
Participants will also deliberate on challenges in data harmonisation, timeliness and comparability across states, while exploring innovative approaches to strengthen statistical systems. Experiences and insights from United Nations agencies and other international organisations are expected to provide a global perspective on effective SDG monitoring practices.
The second technical session on the opening day will address gender statistics, highlighting their critical role in advancing women led development and promoting gender responsive governance.
The discussions will focus on improving the collection, analysis and utilisation of gender disaggregated data to identify gaps, design targeted interventions and evaluate outcomes. Emphasis will also be placed on strengthening institutional frameworks to ensure that gender considerations are systematically integrated into policy formulation and programme implementation.
The session is expected to underline the importance of reliable gender data in addressing issues such as economic participation, education, health outcomes and social equity, thereby supporting inclusive development.
The second day of the workshop will be dedicated to environmental statistics and accounting, reflecting the growing importance of integrating environmental considerations into economic and policy planning.
Key discussions will revolve around the System of Environmental Economic Accounting framework, which provides a structured approach to measuring the relationship between the economy and the environment.
Experts will present methodologies for valuing ecosystem services, including forests, biodiversity and other natural resources, with a focus on improving the accuracy and comprehensiveness of environmental data.
States will share their experiences in compiling environmental accounts, highlighting both achievements and challenges in implementing these frameworks at the regional level. These discussions are expected to contribute to the development of more robust and standardised approaches to environmental data collection and reporting.
The workshop will also provide a platform for environmental experts to share insights on emerging issues, including climate change, natural resource management and sustainability metrics, further strengthening the integration of environmental considerations into policy frameworks.
Officials stated that the convergence of discussions on Sustainable Development Goals, gender statistics and environmental accounting reflects a holistic approach to governance, where economic growth, social inclusion and environmental sustainability are treated as interconnected priorities.
By strengthening institutional capacity and fostering collaboration among stakeholders, the workshop aims to build a more responsive and data driven governance ecosystem capable of addressing complex development challenges.
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation emphasised that high quality, reliable and timely data is essential for effective policy formulation, programme implementation and monitoring of development outcomes.
The Patna workshop is expected to play a significant role in enhancing statistical capacity across the country, enabling better alignment of national and state level data systems with global development frameworks.
